Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (McCarthy Report)
Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (McCarthy Report)
On the 16th of July 2009, the Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., released the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. The Group was chaired by UCD Economist Mr. Colm McCarthy. The Group's mandate was to examine all current Exchequer spending across all Departments and agencies, to see where expenditure and staff savings might be made, as necessary in the current financial crisis. The CWC has issued a number of documents in response to the Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes.
CWC Briefing Paper on the Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes
The CWC Briefing document outlines the main aspects of the report that pertain or will have an impact on the community sector and those with whom the community sector works. It is important to point out that in fulfilling this brief there was no mandate to marry their economic analysis with social considerations. This will now be the job of Government who will be tasked with implementing the recommendations contained in the report as they deem appropriate.
Poor and unequal communities affected most
In a statement issued in response to the Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, the Community Workers' Co-operative stated that, if implemented, the cuts suggested by the report will have a devastating impact on the community and voluntary sector and on the work carried out at local and community level with those most marginalised who benefitted least from the Celtic tiger era.
CWC response to the Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes
CWC submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service
The CWC submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service on the impact of the Report of Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes urges the protection of the work of the community sector.
CWC submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and the Public Service
Department of Finance's evaluation paper to the Mc Carthy report
The Department of Finance's evaluation paper to the Mc Carthy report is available here http://www.finance.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/Publications/other/2009/backgroundpapsnip09.htm
Under the DCRGA submission - check out the comment under 4.1.2 Local and Community Development Schemes on page 10 and page 25:
5.6 Local and Community Development Bodies, including rural and drugs structures
Reforms here have seen the amalgamation of LEADER and Partnership structures from 94 to 55, so as to avoid overlaps, deliver improved efficiencies and enhance accessibility for local groups. Building on such work, the Department now proposes that such integrated county structures should provide shared services to Community Development Projects and Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces in their areas. In this way, payroll and other administration can be centralised, improved efficiencies secured and small local groups enabled to improve focus on their primary work.